SBNation.com - Team USA Advances To Gold Medal Game With Win Over Argentinahttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2012-08-10T19:16:34-04:00http://www.sbnation.com/rss/stream/29976352012-08-10T19:16:34-04:002012-08-10T19:16:34-04:00Russell Westbrook Injury: Team USA Guard Has Mild Ankle Sprain, Uncertain For Gold Medal Game
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<p>Nobody -- least of all Oklahoma City fans -- was happy to see <span>Russell Westbrook</span> hobble off the court and into the locker room with the United States up more than 20 late in its semifinal win against Argentina. The good news is the injury isn't serious; the bad news is he might not be available for Sunday's gold medal matchup against Spain. Several reporters tweeted the news:</p>
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<p>Team USA's Russell Westbrook suffered a mild ankle sprain, and his availability for the gold medal game on Sunday is uncertain.</p>
<p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a data-datetime="2012-08-10T22:39:27+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/234056394423283712">August 10, 2012</a></p>
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<p>Westbrook's absence vs. Spain certainly wouldn't be optimal: His energy and on-ball pressure from the point guard spot has been awesome for the United States off the bench, not to mention his scoring -- he had seven in only nine minutes Friday against Argentina and is obviously one of the most talented young scorers in the NBA -- but the United States is not wanting for depth. The worst-case scenario is Westbrook's Thunder teammate <span>James Harden</span> takes a few minutes at two-guard off the bench, which if you know James Harden, is not a worst-case scenario. It's equally likely the United States just shortens its bench and uses its nine insanely talented rotation players not named Russell Westbrook more. Westbrook is great, but he's not pivotal for victory.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Olympics, check out <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/london-olympics-2012" target="_blank">SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub</a>. For more on Olympic basketball, follow the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/section/2012-olympics-basketball" target="new">2012 Olympic basketball</a> section.</i></p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/2012/8/10/3234650/russell-westbrook-injury-team-usa-mild-ankle-sprain-gold-medal-gameRodger Sherman2012-08-10T18:07:11-04:002012-08-10T18:07:11-04:00VIDEO: Kobe Bryant Talks Dwight Howard Trade After Team USA Win
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<p>This is short and sweet, but you knew Craig Sager was going to ask Kobe Bryant about his new teammate, Dwight Howard. Late Thursday night, reports emerged indicating Howard was heading to the Lakers in a huge four-team trade. And as quickly as the rumors popped up, the trade was finalized with the league office.</p>
<p>So naturally, the attention turned to Kobe. And he handled things politically after Team USA beat Argentina to advance to the gold medal game.</p>
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<p><i>"You know, I'm excited. I mean, we know the type of presence he brings and the physicality that he brings. I'm looking forward to it. It's been an incredible summer for us."</i></p>
<p>Kobe heaped even more praise on Howard later, as well.</p>
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<p>Kobe on Dwight: "The team is his. It should be his."</p>
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMannixSI/status/234043094180458496" data-datetime="2012-08-10T21:46:36+00:00">August 10, 2012</a>
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<p>Not sure how much truth there is to that statement, but there you go. Kobe has a new toy to play with, and the Lakers have to be considered a favorite, or at least in a select group of favorites, to win the NBA title. So of course Bryant is happy and making his new teammate feel welcome.</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">For more on the teams involved with the Howard deal, visit Magic blog <a href="http://orlandopinstripedpost.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold;">Orlando Pinstriped Post</a>, Lakers blog <a href="http://silverscreenandroll.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold;">Silver Screen and Roll</a>, Nuggets blog<a href="http://denverstiffs.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold;"> Denver Stiffs</a> and Sixers blog<a href="http://libertyballers.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold;">Liberty Ballers</a>.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/2012/8/10/3234463/kobe-bryant-interview-video-dwight-howard-tradeBrian Floyd2012-08-10T17:45:32-04:002012-08-10T17:45:32-04:00Team USA Vs. Argentina Final Score: Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James Lead U.S. To Big 3rd Quarter Run, Victory
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<p>There's something about playing on Team USA that suits <span>Carmelo Anthony</span> perfectly. It could be having the pressure off to shoulder 100 percent of the load, it could be the plethora of open looks, it could be playing with his good friend <span>LeBron James</span>, but whatever it is, it works for him. He was the key to an explosive third quarter of three-point shooting, one in which Team USA took control after only leading by seven at halftime, and the U.S. ran away with the victory, 109-83, and will face Spain in the gold medal game Sunday.</p>
<p>Anthony scored 18, almost all in the second half, LeBron James also scored 18 and was the constant dominant force through four quarters, and <span>Kevin Durant</span> led the scoring with 19. The team distributed the ball phenomenally well — James and <span>Chris Paul</span> had seven assists apiece and <span>Deron Williams</span> had six — and <span>Kevin Love</span> did the dirty work inside with nine rebounds.</p>
<p>This iteration of the Dream Team struggled from the three-point line in the first half — they shot 5-17 — but decided they would remedy that by shooting more, attempting 25 three-pointers in the second half, making 13 of them, slightly more than 50 percent. This isn't the first time they've had a bad shooting half in the Olympics, but every time they've managed to heat up in the other half and it hasn't been a problem for a victory, nor should it be against Spain.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Olympics, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/london-olympics-2012">SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub</a>. For more on Olympic basketball, follow the <a target="new" href="http://www.sbnation.com/section/2012-olympics-basketball">2012 Olympic basketball</a> section.</i></p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/2012/8/10/3234367/team-usa-argentina-score-final-olympics-2012Ethan Rothstein2012-08-10T17:33:26-04:002012-08-10T17:33:26-04:00Russell Westbrook Injury: Thunder Point Guard Rolls Ankle In Team USA's Game Vs. Argentina
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<p>Team USA is well on its way to a blowout win over Argentina in the semifinals of the 2012 Olympic basketball tournament, but they still could have some bad news to deal with as they prepare for a gold-medal matchup with Spain on Sunday. <span>Russell Westbrook</span>, the fabulous point guard for the <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oklahoma City Thunder</a>, rolled his ankle in the fourth quarter and limped off the court. His status remains uncertain.</p>
<p>It looked like Westbrook came down awkwardly on that ankle in the lane, rolling it like many basketball players have done over the years. While Westbrook is not one of the team's most important players, he is a strong defensive presence and has been used to change the tempo of many games in this tournament. If he cannot play, it'll likely mean a bigger role for teammate <span>James Harden</span>, who has mostly been the 11th man throughout the Olympics.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Olympics, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/london-olympics-2012">SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub</a>. For more on Olympic basketball, follow the <a target="new" href="http://www.sbnation.com/section/2012-olympics-basketball">2012 Olympic basketball</a> section. <br></i></p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/2012/8/10/3234370/russell-westbrook-injury-team-usa-argentinaMike Prada2012-08-10T17:18:00-04:002012-08-10T17:18:00-04:00Team USA Vs. Argentina Score Update: LeBron James, Kevin Durant Blow Game Open
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<p>Just like they did in their preliminary-round matchup, Team USA used the third quarter to open up a big lead over Argentina. And, once again, it was <span>LeBron James</span> and <span>Kevin Durant</span> leading the way. James provided the signature highlight, while Durant scored 12 points on four three-pointers to key Team USA's 74-57 lead after three quarters.</p>
<p>Argentina came out for the second half with a lot of energy, cutting Team USA's lead down to four, but Team USA responded. A 12-3 run was punctuated by two three-pointers from Kevin Durant, and Team USA regained a 13-point advantage with six minutes to play in the third quarter. Later, LeBron James drove past <span>Carlos Delfino</span> and threw down this vicious right-handed slam to open the floodgates.</p>
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<p>Durant then followed with two more three-pointers, and Team USA opened up a 17-point lead.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Olympics, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/london-olympics-2012">SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub</a>. For more on Olympic basketball, follow the <a target="new" href="http://www.sbnation.com/section/2012-olympics-basketball">2012 Olympic basketball</a> section.</i></p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/2012/8/10/3234308/team-usa-vs-argentina-score-lebron-james-kevin-durant-olympics-2012Mike Prada2012-08-10T16:49:41-04:002012-08-10T16:49:41-04:00Team USA Vs. Argentina Score Update: Americans Lead At Half Despite Iffy Shooting
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<p>The three-point shot, the unfortunate linchpin of Team USA's offense, hasn't been falling with consistency in the first half of the 2012 Olympic semifinal game against Argentina, but <span>LeBron James</span>, <span>Kobe Bryant</span> and company still lead at the half, 47-40.</p>
<p>Bryant is leading the charge for Team USA — the same way he did last year as they approached the gold medal game — with 13 points, three rebounds and an assist. LeBron James, who keyed a shift in mentality late in the second half by attacking the basket, has 11 points and four rebounds. The team as a whole, however, is struggling, shooting just 5-17 from three-point range. <span>Doc Rivers</span> is in NBC Sports' studio, and when asked if the U.S. will shoot less in the second half said, "I expect them to shoot more." Sounds about right.</p>
<p>Argentina needs to get more scoring from <span>Manu Ginobili</span> and <span>Luis Scola</span>, who have eight and 10 points, if they're going to seriously challenge the U.S. when the shots start falling. Whether they can do that with the defense Team USA is capable playing is a different story, but it's still what needs to happen. The winner of this game will take on the Gasol brothers and Spain in the gold medal game on Sunday.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Olympics, check out <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/london-olympics-2012" target="_blank">SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub</a>. For more on Olympic basketball, follow the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/section/2012-olympics-basketball" target="new">2012 Olympic basketball</a> section.</i></p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/2012/8/10/3234251/team-usa-argentina-score-olympics-basketball-2012Ethan Rothstein2012-08-10T16:26:39-04:002012-08-10T16:26:39-04:00LeBron James Does A Typical LeBron James Thing
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<p>Ho hum, another chasedown block by <span>LeBron James</span> in a really important spot in a big game. These things happen too often. Bo-ring.</p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/2012/8/10/3234211/lebron-james-does-a-typical-lebron-james-thingMike Prada2012-08-10T16:20:54-04:002012-08-10T16:20:54-04:00Team USA Vs. Argentina Score Update: Kobe Bryant Leads Team USA In First Quarter
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<p>It didn't take long for Team USA to pick up where they left off from their quarterfinal win over Australia. They got off to a fast start in Friday's semifinal against Argentina, raining three-pointers from the very beginning to take a double-digit lead. However, Argentina rallied by the end of the quarter to cut USA's lead to 24-19 after one quarter.</p>
<p><span>Kobe Bryant</span> was on fire, much like he was in the second half against Australia. He had 11 first-quarter points, shooting 3-5 from downtown, to get Team USA going. He drove baseline and dunked for his first basket, then continued his hot shooting after that. It didn't matter whether Argentina was guarding him closely.</p>
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<p>But Argentina rallied like the experienced team it is, calming down offensively and attacking Team USA's switches. The Argentinians also switched to a zone that slowed Team USA's offensive onslaught, at least about as well as they could. <span>Luis Scola</span> and <span>Manu Ginobili</span>, as expected, are leading the way with six and five points.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Olympics, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/london-olympics-2012">SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub</a>. For more on Olympic basketball, follow the <a target="new" href="http://www.sbnation.com/section/2012-olympics-basketball">2012 Olympic basketball</a> section.</i></p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/2012/8/10/3234149/team-usa-vs-argentina-score-kobe-bryant-olympic-basketball-2012Mike Prada